Like for-profit business ventures, nonprofits can create a business plan to describe how they will turn their mission into reality.

The business planning process involves the following steps:

• Researching the market - You can use resources like Candid search to easily research nonprofits in the same subject area and see what programs they offer
• Investigating the resources your nonprofit will need to provide services
• Developing marketing and communication strategies
• Assessing risk
• Determining ways to evaluate success - Issue Lab's Measure results is a collection of resources aimed at helping you build your evaluation capacity, and Issue Lab itself includes many evaluations that can serve as examples of how others have evaluated their successes.

You can also use a business plan for a specific project or venture for a nonprofit.

To help diversify their revenue sources, for example, many nonprofits explore ways to earn income by developing their own business ventures. A classic example is Girl Scout cookies. Each year Girl Scout troops sell cookies, and the money they earn goes toward Girl Scout programs. Providing goods or services for a fee can be an important way for a nonprofit to bring in revenue to supplement its fundraising activities.

Selected resources below can help you learn more about creating an overall business plan for a nonprofit organization or specifically for an earned income venture.

Still have questions about starting a nonprofit, finding grants, or other fundraising and management queries? Ask Candid's experts to get answers.

Business Planning (for nonprofits or for-profits)
Management Library

This site provides an overview of business planning, with a special section focusing on nonprofits. Includes sample nonprofit business plans.

Sample Nonprofit Business Plans
BridgeSpan Group

Along with a link to its full-text article titled “Business Planning for Nonprofits: What It Is and Why It Matters,” the Bridgespan Group gives links to 3 sample nonprofit business plans.

Free Nonprofit Sample Business Plans
Bplans.com

Candid does not endorse the business planning software sold on this site, but the sample nonprofit business plans provided are helpful and quite comprehensive.

How to Write a Nonprofit Business Plan
Bplans

This article provides a brief overview of the steps involved in creating a nonprofit business plan.

Nonprofit vs. Traditional Business Plans
Entrepreneur.com

Entrepreneur.com offers some information on the differences between a nonprofit and traditional business plan.

Business Planning Tools for Non-Profit Organizations
SCORE Foundation

Offers advice on strategic plans, business plans & feasibility studies, as well as information on financial options, assessing funding sources. Extensive information on planning volunteer programs as well.

Social Enterprise Business Plan
Propel Nonprofits

This outline was developed for nonprofit organizations wishing to embark on earned income ventures with a business model.

Write Your Business Plan
Small Business Administration

Though not geared specifically to nonprofits, these resources from the SBA cover in detail the elements that should be included in any kind of business plan.

Business Planning for Nonprofits
National Council of Nonprofits

Provides a listing of suggested resources on business and strategic planning for nonprofit organizations.